General Discussion

In November, voters passed Proposition 50, which redrew California’s congressional lines to shore up Democratic districts starting with the November 2026 midterm cycle. Under that initiative, LaMalfa’s district was shifted south to include more liberal Bay Area residents, starting in the November 2026 midterms.

LaMalfa represented the state’s 1st congressional district, which spans much of the north state up to the Oregon border, a reliably conservative and mostly rural agrarian area.

Under state law, because the district representative vacated before those new lines went into effect, the successor will be elected to represent the current district, according to redistricting expert Paul Mitchell.

A handful of candidates have declared their intention to run for the new district, like previous LaMalfa opponent Audrey Denney and Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg. In addition to the special primary election for LaMalfa’s successor, another election will take place for someone to represent the newly drawn 1st District, which will include voters from more liberal leaning Sonoma and Napa counties, Mitchell said.

Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article314211930.html#storylink=cpy